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Sports Editor Matt Daniels with a look at what’s going on around the area:
The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat: With Penn State defenders watching in disbelief, Illinois wide receivers Isaiah Williams (1) and Casey Washington (14) celebrate after Washington’s game-winning two-point conversion in a 20-18 nine-overtime win for the Illini on Oct. 23, 2021, at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa.
Three reasons we love sports today
➜ 1. It’s a Top 20 Big Ten football matchup this Saturday night at Beaver Stadium. Illinois checks in at No. 19 in the Associated Press poll that came out Sunday afternoon, moving up five spots after its 31-24 overtime win at Nebraska this past Friday night. Penn State holds down the No. 9 ranking, with the Nittany Lions getting a one spot bump after shutting out Kent State 56-0 on Saturday at home.
➜ 2. The showdown at 106,572-seat Beaver Stadium in State College, Pa., will kick off at 6:30 p.m. on NBC.
➜ 3. Illinois women’s basketball coach Shauna Green will stop by the Esquire from 5-6 p.m. for ‘Monday Night SportsTalk.’ Can’t make it out? Listen in on WDWS 1400-AM and 93.9-FM.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws off balance to an open Rome Odunze (15) during the first quarter of the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts game at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sept. 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)
Numbers game: 363
Passing yards by Caleb Williams on Sunday. But the Bears lost 21-16 on the road against the Colts, with Williams throwing the first two touchdowns of his NFL career. The rookie also threw two interceptions and lost a fumble in Chicago’s second straight defeat. Williams completed 33 of his 52 passes on Sunday, and is 70 of 118 for 630 yards, two TDs and four interceptions going into next Sunday’s home game against the Rams.
Have to imagine former Illini and Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras will be fired up to play on Monday night when the Bengals host the Washington Commanders.
Crowd control
Three events I’m paying attention to
➜ 1. Illinois at Penn State football. The Illini are only 2-10 all-time at Beaver Stadium, beating the Nittany Lions 33-13 in 2010 for the first time and then outlasting Penn State 20-18 in an NCAA record nine overtimes in 2021.
➜ 2. Washington Commanders at Cincinnati Bengals. Five former Illini — Chase Brown and Ted Karras with the Bengals, Nick Allegretti, Quan Martin and Johnny Newton with the Commanders — will see each other on Monday Night Football.
➜ 3. Champaign Central at Centennial girls’ swimming. The two Big 12 rivals will meet in the Unit 4 pool on Tuesday afternoon for a dual meet to get early bragging rights this season.
The Willi family: Scott, Riley and Kim.
Coach’s corner
Three questions with Prairie Central boys’ golf coach Scott Willi. His Hawks are in action Tuesday at the Illini Prairie Conference meet at Lincolnshire Fields Country Club in Champaign:
âžœ 1. My favorite sports team is … the New York Giants. I grew up in upstate New York.
âžœ 2. Three coaches I’d like to have dinner with are … Bobby Knight, Patt Summitt and Dan Gable.
âžœ 3. My biggest pet peeve is … being disrespectful to others. You treat others the way you want to be treated.